Systems and methods for glass particle detection

Abstract

A particle detection system includes a light source configured to emit a light beam into a cylindrical glass article when the cylindrical glass article is imaged by the glass particle detection system. The light beam is directed along a beam propagation axis that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical glass article. The particle detection system further includes a first polarizer positioned between the light source and the cylindrical glass, a camera configured to capture an image of the light beam reflected from the cylindrical glass article, and an analyzer positioned between the cylindrical glass article and the camera. An optical axis of the camera is perpendicular to the beam propagation axis of the light source.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A glass particle detection system, comprising:
 a light source configured to emit a light beam into a cylindrical glass article when the cylindrical glass article is imaged by the glass particle detection system, the light beam being directed along a beam propagation axis that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical glass article; 
 a polarizer positioned between the light source and the cylindrical glass article; 
 a camera configured to capture an image of the light beam reflected from the cylindrical glass article, an optical axis of the camera being perpendicular to the beam propagation axis of the light source; 
 an analyzer positioned between the cylindrical glass article and the camera; and 
 a computing device communicatively coupled to the camera, the computing device comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing computer readable and executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing device to:
 determine boundaries of an inner wall and an outer wall of the cylindrical glass article based on the captured image; 
 determine a region of interest based on the boundaries; and 
 determine whether a particle is present within the region of interest. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The glass particle detection system of  claim 1 , wherein a polarization axis of the polarizer is oriented at about 90 degrees relative to a polarization axis of the analyzer. 
     
     
       3. The glass particle detection system of  claim 1 , wherein the light source is a laser light source. 
     
     
       4. The glass particle detection system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a holder for holding the cylindrical glass article; and 
 an actuator coupled to the holder and configured to move the holder in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical glass article. 
 
     
     
       5. The glass particle detection system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer readable and executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the computing device to
 determine that a particle is attached to the inner wall of the cylindrical glass article if it is determined that the particle is present within the region of interest. 
 
     
     
       6. The glass particle detection system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer readable and executable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the computing device to
 determine that no particle is attached to the inner wall of the cylindrical glass article if it is determined that no particle is present within the region of interest. 
 
     
     
       7. The glass particle detection system of  claim 1 , wherein the region of interest is defined by an inner circle and an outer circle,
 a center of the inner circle is the same as a center of the outer circle, 
 a radius of the outer circle is less than a radius of the outer wall of the cylindrical glass article and more than a radius of the inner wall of the cylindrical glass article, and 
 a radius of the inner circle is less than a radius of the inner wall of the cylindrical glass article. 
 
     
     
       8. The glass particle detection system of  claim 7 , wherein the radius of the inner circle is between about 90% of the radius of the inner wall and about 95% of the radius of the inner wall. 
     
     
       9. A method for detecting particles on a cylindrical glass article, comprising:
 directing a light beam through a polarizer into the cylindrical glass article along a beam propagation axis that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical glass article, the light beam polarized by the polarizer producing light scattered by one or more particles on the inner wall of the cylindrical glass article; 
 capturing, by a camera having an optical axis perpendicular to the beam propagation axis, an image of the light beam reflected from the cylindrical glass article including the scattered light via an analyzer, the analyzer located between the cylindrical glass article and the camera, and a polarization axis of the polarizer being oriented at about 90 degrees relative to a polarization axis of the analyzer; 
 determining boundaries of the inner wall and an outer wall of the cylindrical glass article on the image; 
 determining a region of interest based on the boundaries; 
 processing the image to filter out illumination outside the region of interest; and 
 determining whether a particle is present within the region of interest. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising
 determining that a particle is attached to the inner wall of the cylindrical glass article if it is determined that the particle is present within the region of interest. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising
 determining that no particle is attached to the inner wall of the cylindrical glass article if it is determined that no particle is present within the region of interest. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the region of interest is defined by an inner circle and an outer circle,
 a center of the inner circle is the same as a center of the outer circle, 
 a radius of the outer circle is less than a radius of an outer wall of the cylindrical glass article and more than a radius of an inner wall of the cylindrical glass article, and 
 a radius of the inner circle is less than a radius of the inner wall of the cylindrical glass article. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the optical axis of the camera is parallel with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical glass article. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising
 moving, by an actuator, the cylindrical glass article in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical glass article.